Standard vs Pediatric Tracheostomy Kits

Standard vs Pediatric Tracheostomy Kits

Standard vs pediatric tracheostomy kits are not just a matter of size - it's also about fragility, fit, and tolerance. 

For most facilities having both kits in stock is vital, though from a procurement and buying perspective the volume and ordering process can be quite different due to the demand for each type of tracheostomy kit. 

Standard Adult Tracheostomy Kits

Standard tracheostomy kits are built for consistency. Adult neck size, adult airflow, adult anatomy. Most facilities run through them constantly, they’re used in the ICU, ER, even step-down units and they’re a known quantity. You know what’s in the kit, where it’s stored, how fast you can get it. That matters when things are moving fast.

Standard tracheostomy kits are not designed to scale down. The tubes are larger, but also firmer, less forgiving  so they can’t be used on pediatric cases. 

From a procurement perspective standard kits are generally easier to order. Bulk pricing works. Vendor bundling makes sense. Tracking’s simpler when you don’t split inventory by age or patient type. 

Pediatric Kits: Low Volume, High Importance

Pediatric tracheostomy kits are smaller, but that’s not the only difference. What matters is how much more delicate everything is. Softer ties. Gentler materials. Shorter tubes and less invasive feel.

Pediatric tracheostomy kits may sit on shelves longer than standard kits due to lower demand, and you might reorder them once a quarter, not weekly. But when they’re needed, they have to be there because substitutions don’t really work. There’s a safety line you don’t want to cross.

The problem is, due to low usage, pediatric tracheostomy kits can often be overlooked during contract reviews, or flagged as “non-essential” during cost-cutting rounds. This can lead to spot-buying, or rush orders. 

Different Roles

These kits serve very different roles. They’re not interchangeable, and pretending they are is what leads to bad calls under pressure.

You don’t need to stock 20 pediatric kits per floor, and that would be overkill in most facilities. But on the other hand not stocking any is risky. Most teams find a middle ground, limited pediatric tracheostomy kit kept in stock, stocked at specific locations, maybe even shared regionally with pediatric facilities nearby.

This approach can work, even if it's not the perfect solution. You get coverage without drowning in low-turn inventory. Every facility will develop its own strategy to ensure patient safety, it takes a little planning, and maybe adding a tag in your ERP system to make sure you never run out of stock.

The difference between standard and pediatric tracheostomy kits is critical, and both need to be on hand to ensure you can treat patients of all ages when they need it.  

About MAP Medical

MAP Medical helps procurement teams find the supplies they need even when other distributors don’t have access to stock or can’t source hard to find items. With a product catalog featuring over 500,000 products from 3,000 manufacturers, MAP Medical supplies hospitals, acute care facilities, and educational & research labs with high quality products to match their exact requirements and budgets. Fast dispatch and delivery times, along with excellent customer service ensures the medical supply chain runs smoothly without interruption. 

MAP Medical is more than just a supplier -  we work as a strategic partner to enable every client that works with us to make tangible improvements in cost and time efficiencies. To find out more about how MAP Medical can help you, get in touch with our team today.